“Ready or not, tell yourself to jump.” When her husband passed away more than 10 years ago, Kathryn Barroga, was only left with one choice – oversee their 5-ha farm while taking care of her two children, then aged 19 and 12 years old.  Kathryn, a physical therapist by profession, spent her childhood on a rice farm. Despite being exposed to farm life, her parents prioritized her education and discouraged […]

PalaySikatan, a technology demonstration under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement (RCEF) Fund Seed Program, has helped farmers improve their farm practices by introducing new rice varieties. Dexter Bacaniwas had been satisfied with NSIC Rc 480, his constant for more than two years. “I was not interested in shifting to the new varieties I heard from my fellow farmers because Rc 480 is drought-resistant, high-quality, and consistently performs well,” he said.  A […]

For Alex Equias, a training graduate under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program, farming is a family affair. His view is shared globally as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declared 2019-2028 as the UN Decade of Farming. The UN published that more than 80% of the food in the world is produced by family farmers. “I want farming to be something my family continues to […]

Do you know that a rich source of information on Philippine soils is easily available and accessible online? This is the Philippine Soil Information System. A quick dig-up on the internet leads you to this online data treasury. What is this online data treasury? The PhilRice Soil Information System (PSIS) is a web portal in the DA-PhilRice Database and Management Portal (DBMP) that contains extensive data and information on the […]

While his fellow farmers switch to high-value crops due to rice’s low yield and market price, Abner Javier continues to plant the country’s staple food believing that rice can reach its potential yield with the right technologies. He is passionate of this belief that for eight years, the 50-year-old farmer-leader from Calauan, Laguna teaches modern rice farming in his Javier Integrated Farm (JIF) school without charge. With the pandemic and […]

“They say that sailing across the sea is a dream come true, yet, you can also sail in the farm and build dreams of your own.”  Christopher Harold C. Arboleda, 31-year-old-graduate of a training of trainers (TOT) course by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Rice Extension Services Program said.  “In farming, you own your time. I’m the worker, I’m also the boss. If you’re looking for a career or […]

Living a healthy life is a matter of choice. While some people choose to be healthy, others take on the bigger responsibility to help others live a healthy life.  In the rice industry, there are people who took on the challenge to bring healthier rice options to more Filipinos’ tables.  Rice options to curb malnutrition  Upon learning that 3 of 10 children are malnourished and 7 of 10 women are […]

Nanotechnology (nanotech) is revolutionizing farming, requiring a critical study on ultra-small-scale materials. “Nano” means “one billionth.”  Nanotech can set the standards for fertilizers, pesticides, and other agri supplies that contain agrochemicals. DA-PhilRice scientists and researchers are now navigating into nanotech by conducting a “fertilizer derby” experiment led by Dr. Leylani Juliano, chief science research specialist (SRS). A certain nano fertilizer is also being jointly developed with the Central Luzon State […]

To Third Domingo, farming was a childhood dream. Coming from a family of teachers and farmers, he now savors the different kind of happiness that agriculture offers, that is despite being a sought-after creative writer for big brands.  Now that he has built his own advertising company called IXM, he set off to his dream of being a farmer.  Farming: Returning to his roots  “When the sun sets, you stop […]

“We’re not here because it’s an easy life. We’re here to make lives easy.” This is the essence of serving the Filipino rice farmers, according to Dr. Santiago R. Obien, now 87, first DA-PhilRice director. A crux deeply ingrained that no insurgencies, vandalized fields, travel ordeals, and limited resources can interrupt.  Conflict passers-by Reaching the marginalized farmers entails faith without neglecting self preservation. Datu Ali “Alex” Sumlay of DA-PhilRice Midsayap, […]